Improvement in flexible keys for locks



V L. J. ROBERTS.

' Flexible Key for Locks.

No. 208,123. Patented Spt.17.1878.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

LEGRAN D J. ROBERTS, OF MEADVILLE, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TORANSOM O. WRIGHT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLEXIBLE KEYS FOR LOCKS Specification forming part ofLetters Patent No. 208,123, dated September 17, 1878; application tiledJanuary 24, 1878. v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEGRAND J. ROBERTS, of Meadville, in the county ofCrawford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovementin Flexible Keys for Locks, which improvement is fully setforth in the following specification, reference being had to theaccompanyingdrawingsfln which Figure 1 is a view of the lock, and Fig. 2a View of the key.

The object of my invention is to so construct locks and their keys thatthe-key shall operate in a curved or serpentine passage leading from{)he exterior of the lock to the guards of the olt.

The lock and key are illustrated more in detail in the accompanyingdrawings, where A represents the curved or serpentine passage; B, thebolt; 0, the bolt-spring; D, the staple; E, the staple-spring; F, a stopto regulate the movement of the staple D; G, the guards of the bolt B H,the key, its handle J being formed in any desirable style, to which isattached aeoil or coils of wire, L, which form a flexible end to thekey. To the end of the coil or coils L, opposite the handle J, isattached a head, M, with projections N and indentations 0, which fitinto and against the guards G of the bolt 13.

The operation of the lock and key willbe readily seen by inserting thekey H into the curved or serpentine passage A, with the projection Ktoward the top of the opening P at Q, when, by pushing the key H, itwill conform, by means of its flexibility, to the shape of the passage Auntil the head M comes into contact with the guards G of the boltB,w'heu,

by turning the key to the right, it will revolve while keeping to theshape of the passage A, and the projections N and indentations 0 willcome in contact with and operate the guards G of the bolt B, while therevolving motion will move the bolt B against the spring 0 and out ofthe pocket R in the staple D, when the spring E is allowed to throw thestaple I) outward, and thereby release the lock. The key may then beremoved. To fasten the lock it is only necessary to press down thestaple D, when its spring E will be compressed and the spring 0 beallowed to force the bolt B into its position R, where it secures thestaple D. i

The lock may be formed and used either as a pad, door, drawer, or in anyother desirable form, and the passageA may be more or less curved orserpentine in shape.

The key can have any desired number of projections N and indentations Oto suit a desired number of guards Gr.

I do not claim the general form of the lock, the movement of the stapleD, nor the curved key-hole, nor a key formed with a single joint 5 but Iclaim as my invention- A key the shank of which is formed of coiledwire, making it flexible for insertion through a curved passage in thelock, substantially as described.

LEGRAND J. ROBERTS. Vitnesses:

WILLIAM J. WORK, J OHN SGHEUFNOOKEN.

